'fedora' on Serious Eats

Scotch might not seem like the most likely base for a cocktail. Plenty will still argue that Scotch is for sipping—not polluting with anything other than an ice cube, or maybe a few drops of water if you're feeling frisky. But properly deployed in cocktails, Scotch can take on many roles, whether the aggressive frontrunner or a mellow backdrop to other flavors. Here are ten of our favorites in New York right now—from a light lavender number to a dark, brooding sipper. More